Page 81 of Failed State

“I’ve been eagerly awaiting the design work you were to complete,” the professor says as she dims the lights in the room. “We’re going to put them up on the smart board, so I’m able to highlight where you have done well and where you made mistakes. Get your tablets out and connect to the signal so you can drop them to me.”

Sydney makes a grumpy sound and I tug her braid lightly from my seat behind her. “Don’t worry, Vicious. Your stuff is definitely going to make the grade; I guarantee it.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she hisses. “I’m worried she’s going to make mewearit at some point.”

Oh. I didn’t fucking think about that—they’re all going to kill me if that happens.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

SYDNEY

The restof Flair went as slowly as I feared, but lunch was mildly useful. Rory declared the table we’ve been using as our ‘permanent’ location for the mess. Staking a claim on it will reinforce our strength, he explained, and since I’m not used to having to use this type of behavior to intimidate, I let it ride. Dante looked pleased when I didn’t complain, and I don’t know why that made my stomach flutter, but I enjoyed it. The vampire took it in stride with my best friends, though I think he wanted to question my complacency.

I’m not sure how to read his quiet watchfulness, but I know he’s up to something.

If I tell Huck and Thad, they’ll chide me because we need to extend trust to all the group, not just everyone but the bloodsucker. And Iamtrying, but it’s hard to erase the indoctrination from my teen years and then the start of the Sweeps. Until the day he was killed, my dad swore the vamps were all evil and had sold us out to the humans for special treatment. Sebastian says that’s only partly true and he might not be lying—but I have to work at believing him just the same.

I guess that’s the same sort of ingrained fear and hatred Taterman used to get the humans to turn on us. Realizing that makes me very unhappy with my brain and I’m fighting against it with every fiber of my being. That doesn’t make it any less work, nor does it make it painless. True growth is not as simple as a plant striving for the sun unencumbered—no, it’s finding a path to the light through all the obstacles in your way, like weeds in cement.

“Jeez, Syd, what is with the poetry today?” I mutter to myself as we leave the elevator and head for the locker room. My gut tightens and I grit my jaw as it nears, remembering the embarrassing event from the other day. I can’t have a hang-up about this facility, so I take a deep breath and stride in with fake confidence. I’ll be damned if I’m going to be frightened of a fuckingroom; there are bigger things to worry about.

Thad stops at my locker, looking at me with his soft, soulful eyes. “Are you cool, Syd?”

I give him a bright smile, batting my lashes playfully. “Just peachy, Thaddy. I can’t wait to beat the shit out of the mosquito for a couple of hours.”

He gives me a dubious expression, but nods and heads for his locker. When he’s not looking at me anymore, I sigh silently and open my storage to place my bag there and grab my uniform. Shutting it with a click, I walk over to the shuttered changing area and peel off my clothes. Everything they did to me in Beauty is healing well, and the mark from the new ‘supernatural’ birth control is also looking good. Rolling my eyes at the irritation I feel about them, I tug on my physical activity uniform and shoes.

This is the only class where I feel like I’m useful, even with the vampire besting me because of his speed; I don’t want to ruin it with melancholy.

Once I stow my other clothes, I turn to look at the guys, blinking when I realize they’re in various states of undress.While I used one of the closed off units, they’re all whipping shit off in the middle of the aisle as if it’s perfectly normal to be naked together. The view is breathtaking, though I’m sure as fuck not going to admit that to them. Instead, I frown as I slam the door shut. It makes Huck jump, and he flushes beet red under his hat as he recovers.

“What was that for, Vicious?” Rory looks like he could play a fucking Greek hero half-clothed in his sweats and bare feet. I swallow hard as I take in the small additions they made to him, and his perfectly cut chest and abs, then up to his classically handsome face and blond hair. “Hello?”

“Uh,” is all I manage before I shake my head. “You’re all?—”

“Naked? Or sort of?” Sebastian muses from where he’s standing clad only in skin tight boxer briefs that I’m glad I can only see the back of. That view is definitelyenoughand if he turns around, I might actually keel over dead.

I nod, clearing my throat as I retort, “Yes. You’re stripping in the middle of the room like it’s your job!”

Thad tilts his head, drawing my attention to the large, broad-shouldered bear with his hulking build. “No one’sfullybare assed, Syd. Don’t get twisted.”

I’m not sure howthat’ssupposed to comfort me while I’m having what feels like a heart attack.

“But… but…”

Huck chuckles as he pulls up his sweatpants and moseys over to me. He’s only wearing that damn sexy hat and those indecent pants as he looks at me with a beatific smile. “Sweet pea, we’re trying to get you used to all this so we can believably flirt and shit. You know that.”

I do, but I didn’t realize I’d be seeing every single perfect line, curve, and dip of them this soon—especially not all together. Licking my lips nervously, I fight the urge to press my hands tomy face to feel the heat rising there. “Yes, but this is… a lot at once.”

“We don’t know when things will begin.”

My eyes flick to the biggest guy, almost popping out cartoonishly as I note his huge thighs and enormous build. I shouldn’t be surprised that a dragon—a royal one, at that—is built like a brick shithouse. Every time I look at Elias, I’m struck again by his sheer size and solidness. It’s otherworldly and strangely makes me want to see how dwarfed I’d be if he hugged me.

Sweet baby Hercules, Sydney, you’ve jumped the track completely.

“Well, that’s true. So, um, I’m glad you guys started getting me ready. See you out there!”

They don’t answer before I beat a fast retreat from the locker room, beelining for a treadmill to do cardio.

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